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Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
Ci. e Nat., Santa Maria, v. 47, e89436, 2025
DOI: 10.5902/2179460X89436
ISSN 2179-460X
Submitted: 20/10/2024 • Approved: 06/03/2025 • Published: 04/04/2025
Biology-Botany
Guilleminea densa (Amaranthaceae): a new record for the brazilian flora
Guilleminea densa (Amaranthaceae): um novo registro para a flora brasileira
Lucas Gonçalves da CunhaI
Thais Scotti do Canto-DorowII
I Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
II Universidade Franciscana, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the first record of Guilleminea densa for Brazil. Until now, the genus Guilleminea was only represented in Brazil by G. fragilis Pedersen, found in Mato Grosso do Sul. Guilleminea densa is native to most of South America and part of North America and has been recorded as invasive in southern Africa. This species can be easily identified by its glabrous leaves on the adaxial face and densely woolly on the abaxial face, with a dense inflorescence of whitish and woolly flowers. The species was recognized during a floristic survey of ruderal species in the municipality of Santa Maria, in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where it was found in an urbanized environment. The paper provides descriptions, illustrations, and information on habitat, distribution, and taxonomy.
Keywords: Biogeography; Native species; Ruderal flora
RESUMO
O presente trabalho apresenta o primeiro registro de Guilleminea densa para o Brasil. O gênero Guilleminea, até o presente, no Brasil, estava representado somente por G. fragilis Pedersen, no Mato Grosso do Sul. Guilleminea densa é nativa na maior parte da América do Sul e, em parte da América do Norte, sendo registrada como invasora no sul do continente africano. Essa espécie pode ser facilmente identificada por suas folhas glabras na face adaxial e densamente lanuginosas na face abaxial, inflorescência densa, com flores esbranquiçadas e lanuginosas. A referida espécie foi reconhecida durante um levantamento florístico de espécies ruderais no município de Santa Maria, região central do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, no Brasil, quando foi encontrada em ambiente urbanizado. São apresentadas descrição, ilustrações e informações sobre hábitat, distribuição, taxonomia.
Palavras-chave: Biogeografia; Espécie nativa; Flora ruderal
The genus Guilleminea Kunth belongs to the family Amaranthaceae A.Juss., which comprises about 170 genera and 2000 species, with 27 genera and about 157 species occurring in Brazil, including 3 genera and 74 species endemic to the country (Flora e Funga do Brasil, 2024; Souza, Lorenzi 2005). In Rio Grande do Sul state, 16 genera and about 51 species are cited, of these 23 are under some degree of threat in the state (Flora e Funga do Brasil, 2024; Marchioretto, 2013; Vasconcellos, 1986). The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions of America and Africa (Vasconcellos, 1982; Siqueira, 2004). With varied habits, the representatives are predominantly herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, or climbers, annual or perennial (Siqueira, 2004; Souza, Lorenzi, 2005).
Amaranthaceae species can be found in various types of environments, such as rocky fields, forest edges, savannas, altered areas like vacant lots and cultivated lands, and although some species are found inside forests, they predominantly occupy open spaces, such as grasslands, savannahs, rock formations, and some species can grow on disturbed areas (Marchioretto, 2014; Siqueira, 2004; Souza, Lorenzi, 2005). In the floristic survey conducted in the municipality of Santa Maria, central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, several species of the family exhibited ruderal behavior, including the one described in this work.
The genus Guilleminea is represented by perennial herbs, rarely woody, often procumbent; opposite leaves, extremely variable in size, shape, and pilosity; the basal rosette may be persistent or wither before anthesis; inflorescences of a single flower or 2 to 30 flowers, densely aggregated at the nodes (Mears, 1967).
Guilleminea densa is the only widely distributed species of the genus, with its range extending from the southern United States to central Argentina (Pedersen, 2000). In the Argentine Andes, it is found at elevations of up to 2000 m (Pedersen, 2000). It has also been collected in Africa (South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe), as well as in Oceania (Australia), where it is considered an introduced species (POWO, 2024).
In Brazil, until now, the genus was only represented by the species G. fragilis Pedersen, recorded in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (Flora e Funga do Brasil, 2024; Pedersen, 2000). In revisions of the Amaranthaceae family, such as for São Paulo (Siqueira, 2002), Bahia (Senna et al., 2010), Serra dos Carajás in the state of Pará (Senna, Lima, 2017), São Bento do Sul (Schwirkowski, 2024), and for the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Marchioretto et al., 2008), the presence of Guilleminea densa (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Moq. was not recorded.
On the digital platforms researched, both national and international, which present the distribution of species and herbarium collections, there are no records of the species for Brazil. For example, on speciesLink (2024), G. densa has been recorded in the following South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, 2024), BioDiversity4All (2024), and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (POWO, 2024) also do not show records of G. densa for Brazil.
The aim of this study is to report a new record of Guilleminea densa for Brazil, collected in the municipality of Santa Maria, located in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul.
The identification of the material was based on dried specimens available in national and international herbaria, including F (Field Museum of Natural History), MO (Missouri Botanical Garden), K (Royal Botanic Gardens), L (Naturalis Biodiversity Center), BHCB (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) (acronyms according to Thiers, 2024).
The material collected in Brazil, during a floristic survey of ruderal species in the municipality of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, by the first author was incorporated into the herbarium of the Department of Biological Sciences of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (SMDB).
Information about the habit and height of G. densa was based on specialized literature (Mears, 1967), as well as the information available on the labels of the studied materials. The description was complemented with scientific literature (Mears, 1967; Pedersen, 2000) and nomenclatural data consulted on Tropicos (2025). As specialized literature, the characteristics of the species were compared with those presented in the illustration and description of Henrickson’s study (1987).
Guilleminea densa (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Moq. in A. DC. Prod. 13(2): 338. 1849. Type: ECUADOR, Quito, Humboldt & Bonpland 2220. [Holotype: Herb. P (P00679601 image seen!)]; Isotypes: P-Herb. Humb. (P00136007 image seen!); (Microfiche, photos GH, NY), P (fragment)].
Prostrate herb, 5-18 cm in diameter, stem internodes 0.1-2.5(-5.0) cm long, 0.5-1.5 mm in diameter, shorter distally, slightly zigzag, reddish, densely woolly with whitish trichomes, root thickened above, forming a distinct ligneous tuber. Basal leaves rosulate, oblong, elliptic to lanceolate, 4-14 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, acute at the apex, cuneate, petiole winged, 1-4 mm long; stem leaf blades broadly to narrowly ovate, oblong-ovate, oblong, rhombic, elliptic to lanceolate, 3-6 mm long, 1-2 mm wide. Inflorescence in clusters of 5-12 flowers, in dense racemes, 2-4 mm long; nodal trichomes on the rachis 1-1.5 mm long; bracts translucent, thin, elliptic-ovate, 0.6-1.6 mm long, bracts of similar texture, 1.2-2 mm long, and 0.6-1 mm wide; pedicel (when present) 0.2-0.3 mm long; calyx 1.7-2.3 mm long; calyx tubes 0.8-1.2 (-1.5) mm long, translucent, membranous and clear, densely villous-woolly on the outside, with white wavy trichomes 1-3 mm long; corolla with 5 lobes, equal to subequal, ovate to elliptic, 0.8-1.5 mm long, 0.4-0.6 mm wide, acute to rounded with folded margin at the tip, membranous translucent except along the midrib, which extends to the lower half, usually without chlorophyll but sometimes with chlorophyll around the lower midrib, villous at least near the base; staminal filament tube supported at an even level near the top of the calyx tube, tube 0.1-0.2 mm high, free filaments broadly dilated at the base, narrowed above; anthers 0.13-0.25 mm long; mature ovary 1.1-1.4 mm long and 0.5-0.6 mm wide, terminal bifid style 0.2-0.3 mm long, stigmatic lobes imperceptible. Seeds 0.8-0.9 mm long, 0.6-0.7 mm wide, shiny, reddish-brown.
Figure 1 – Guilleminea densa: a new record for Brazil. a. Habit. b. Branches with flowers. c and d. Flower details from above. e. Tuberous root, characteristic of the species. f. Flower detail, with pollen on the anthers. g. Location map of the record
Source: Authors’ private collection (2024)
Examined Material: BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: SANTA MARIA, city, urban area, Camobi neighborhood, Cohab Fernando Ferrari, 17th Street, corner with Robson Flores Street, coordinates 29°42’41”S 53°43’39”W, 139 m altitude, 33, Cunha, L. G. & Canto-Dorow, T., 13/02/2024 (SMDB 23073).
Figure 2 – Guilleminea densa: a new record for Brazil. Illustration a. Habit b. Adaxial surface appearance of leaf blades. c. Abaxial surface appearance
Source: Illustrated by Lucas G. Cunha (2024)
Identification key for Guilleminea Species in Brazil
(Adapted from Pedersen, 2000)
1. Inflorescence with 5-12 flowers, root forming a tuber ……………..……Guilleminea densa
1. Inflorescence with 1-3 flowers, woody root, not tuberous ……….….Guilleminea fragilis
.
3.2 Species Occurrence
Camera trapping allowed to verify the occurrence of several wild species in the 371 sampling days. Based on the constancy of occurrence, the most frequently-occurring species were Eira barbara (31%) and C. brachyurus (31%) (Fig. 2); the latter is classified as a near-threatened species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2016) and as a vulnerable species by the Brazil Red Book of Threatened Species of Fauna (ICMBio 2018b) and by the Minas Gerais State Red List of Endangered Species (Minas Gerais 2010). With a frequency of occurrence of 1% each, D. aurita, D. leporina and P. concolor were the least frequently observed species (Fig. 2). P. concolor is listed as vulnerable both in the Brazil Red Book of Threatened Species of Fauna (ICMBio 2018b) and in the Minas Gerais State Red List of Endangered Species (Minas Gerais 2010).
The richness estimated by the jackknife method is graphically shown (Fig. 3). The collection effort (rarefaction), considering each survey sighting, was standardized at 371 Trap/day, with a 95% CI. This technique has been used by ecologists to perform quantitative comparisons between sets of species (Sanders 1968; Colwell & Coddington 1994; Gotelli & Colwell 2001). The species accumulation curves of the present study were adjusted with the first-order jackknife estimator; 34 species were estimated, being registered in area 24. The second-order jackknife estimated a richness of 41 species (Fig. 3). Such data evidence that the Serra dos Toledos Biological Reserve is a rich area that must be preserved, and thus requires the implementation of conservation strategies.
Figure 3 – Collector curve (rarefaction) considering each survey sighting as a sampling unit using first- and second-order jackknife for the sampled area, Serra dos Toledos Biological Reserve, municipality of Itajubá, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Source: Authors’ private collection (December de 2021)
There was no stabilization of the species accumulation curve (red line) in the current assessment, but more species can be found in the study area. According to this estimate, ten (first-order jackknife) or 17 (second-order jackknife) species remain to be found in the surveyed area (Fig. 4). Therefore, the sampling site requires more survey time, or more areas should be sampled within the reserve in order to collect all the species it contains.
ackknife estimates the potential species richness; so, it estimates the amount of species that could still exist in the area but were not sampled (Santos 2003; Magurran 2011). Therefore, the jackknife technique was developed to be applied in studies comprising different taxonomic groups, and it considers the occurrence of rare species (species occurring at low frequencies). This estimator should not be strictly interpreted or considered when used to assess wild species, since fauna displacement may occur and there may be more species than those estimated ones (Walther and Martin 2001; Herzog et al. 2002).
Figure 4 – Collection effort curves considering the sampling unit (survey point) in the Serra dos Toledos Biological Reserve, municipality of Itajubá, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Fonte: Acervo particular dos autores (December 2021)
3.3 Diversity and Uniformity
Data collected through camera trapping indicated a Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’) of 2.539; this is a relevant value, since the diversity index is typically between 1.5 and 3.5 (Magurran 1988). The Simpson’s index (1/D) was also employed in the present research to improve results’ reliability; analyses found a value of 0.8806, which indicates species diversity and the absence of a dominant species. Moreover, a Pielou’s evenness index (J’) of 0.799 was found, thus demonstrating that abundance between species is similar; it refers to relatively homogeneous environments, since its value is constrained between 0 and 1.0. The diversity, heterogeneity and evenness indices showed no significant differences, although the Simpson’s index presented a considerable value, evidencing no tendency towards the dominance of one species.
With this new record, the genus Guilleminea is now represented by two species in Brazil. Despite their similarities, G. densa can be distinguished by its tuberous root, while G. fragilis always has a woody root that never forms a tuber. Additionally, the number of flowers per inflorescence differs, with G. fragilis having 1 to 3 flowers and G. densa having more than 5.
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Master’s Degree in Networked Educational Technologies from the Federal University of Santa Maria.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6167-985X • luccas.cunha@gmail.com
Contribution: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data curation, Investigation, Resources, Project administration, Visualization, Writing - original draft, Writing – review & editing
2 – Thais Scotti do Canto-Dorow
PhD in Sciences/Botany from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. .
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6282-7957 • thaisdorow@gmail.com
Contribution: Data Curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing
How to quote this article
Cunha, L. G. da, & Canto-Dorow, T. S. do (2025). Guilleminea densa (Amaranthaceae): a new record for the brazilian flora. Ciencia e Natura, 47, e89436. doi: 10.5902/2179460X89436.